Ex-cop keeps working through Old Newsboys of Flint to give back to community

MUNDY TWP, MI — Joel Florida is no stranger to struggle — that's why he has devoted his life to helping others.

As a former president and current board member of Old Newsboys, the 71-year-old retired city of Flint police officer has the honor of helping needy children through the nonprofit's three basic programs.

The Christmas Box Program provides a new age-appropriate toy/gift and care package consisting of a sweatsuit, 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of underwear, stocking cap, pair of Thinsulate gloves, and dental hygiene products to qualifying children.

The Warm Hearts and Healthy Starts Program provides shoes and coats to needy children. The Emergency Box Program helps entire families, including adults, get back on their feet after they lose everything in a fire or some other catastrophe with all the things Old Newsboys has at its disposal, plus slightly used donated household items for families that get burnt out of their homes or apartments.

Old Newsboys will celebrate its 90th anniversary at its "Christmas in July" event from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 20 at the Holiday Inn Gateway Center, 5353 Gateway Center in Flint Township.

Recently, Florida was able to help his second cousin when she lost her home to an electrical fire on Father's Day. He took the woman, Mary Stogner of Flint, to Old Newsboys' headquarters to get clothes and toys for her children. "That to me is telling me that 60 years later, the Old Newsboys is still helping me and my family. What a legacy," said Florida, tearing up.

This wasn't the first time that Old Newsboys helped the Florida family. In 1955, when Florida was 12 years old, his father died suddenly from a heart attack at the age of 39.

His father, a detective sergeant for Flint police, left Florida's mother widowed with 10 children -- nine boys and one girl. The oldest child was 18 and the youngest was 4 years old. His mother was only 34 years old and had no job experience or training.

The family lived on the south Side of flint on Beach Street in a three-bedroom house without heat or electricity. Florida said it got so cold in the winter that the pipes would freeze.

That Christmas, Old Newsboys brought care packages for Florida and his siblings. He remembered that the packages consisted of a toy, a pair of blue jeans, a shirt, underwear, gloves and a Clark candy bar. The care packages came every Christmas for the next 14 years while Florida's mother tried to get ahead by selling Stanley home products and working in a restaurant making $5 per night cooking for a place called Chris's lunches.

One of 787,000 children that Old Newsboys has helped since its inception in 1924, Florida decided that he would give back one day. "With that kind of background, you certainly can relate to a lot to people that are in need and have great empathy for them, and most especially after you have been a recipient yourself and others have reached out and helped you and helped your family as Old Newsboys had done for me," said Florida.

When Florida was a senior in high school at Flint Southwestern, he went to the Old Newsboys' office and asked to be put to work. He volunteered his time cleaning and stocking for two women, who he referred to as "the saints of Old Newsboys at that time," Bessy Miller and Joanne Morris.

Florida remembered seeing the pictures of past presidents on the "Wall of Honor" in the main entrance at the Old Newsboys building on Lapeer Road in Flint. He hoped to have his picture on the wall someday. After spending several years on the board of directors, Florida served as president in 2001. "I achieved that goal that I set when I was 17 or 18 years old," he said, smiling.

Florida joined the Flint Police Department in 1965 at the age of 22. In fact, carrying on the legacy of their father, eight out of nine of the Florida brothers served in law enforcement, several working for the city of Flint.

Never forgetting the help his family received, Florida continued to serve for Old Newsboys in whatever capacity he could over the years, dressing up as a clown and Santa for fundraising events, never thinking that he would end up back where he started one Christmas Eve.

During the late 1980s, Florida received a call on Christmas Eve to help a family of four that had relocated to Flint from out of state. The Old Newsboys' headquarters was closed on account of the holidays, so Florida and his wife went to a store and bought some clothes and toys to give to the children. Upon arrival at the south side home, Florida was shocked to see that the home occupied by the family was the very same home on Beach Street where he spent his childhood.

In addition, the oldest child was a spitting image of a 12-year-old Florida the first time Old Newsboys came to help his family — tall, skinny and dark-haired, he recalled. "The children were so pleased. It was wonderful," he said.

Florida said that working with Old Newsboys is his calling and he feels blessed to be able to do it.

"What an honor and a pleasure it is to be a member of the greatest organization in the world that brings the entire community together to help others," Florida said, holding back tears. "I can't say anymore. I love it. That's all. It's me. It's my family, who we are, who we are blessed to be, my calling indeed. It's been an honor for me to serve," he said.

"Joel has dedicated his life to helping kids. He is Old Newsboys' greatest ambassador. He helps many different causes and charities in the area but because of his childhood and association with Old Newsboys as a young person, his passion for Old Newsboys is unprecedented," said Chris Hamilton, director of Old Newsboys of Flint.

Old Newsboys are looking for artifacts from the past to put on display at the anniversary celebration and asks that anyone who is in possession of old photos or other Old Newsboys memorabilia contact the Flint office at 810-744-1840. Donations are being taken at the Old Newsboys Flint office located at 6255 Taylor Drive in Mundy Township. Those unwilling to part with their relics can donate the items for the day and pick-up is available upon request as well.